The first association associated with South America is untamed nature and fiery music. We suggest which destinations are worth choosing to feel its atmosphere.
Expedition to the real jungle and Amazon cruise
A journey deep into the Amazon rainforest combined with a cruise on the largest river in the world is a dream of many travelers. The Amazon is the lungs of the world, the largest rainforest in the world. It grows m.in areas of Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela and Ecuador. Wild tribes still live here, in harmony with nature and its cycle. Some of them have never had contact with civilization. You can meet others and see what their daily lives are like. Diverse flora and fauna, unparalleled species of animals and plants, humid, stuffy microclimate, with countless new smells and sounds, all this is very attractive to most tourists, who choose Brazil for their holidays.
Giant Iguazu Falls
Iguazu Falls are located on the territories of two countries – Argentina and Brazil. By the local Guarani Indians it is called the Infernal Water Storm. They are recognized as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The highest cascade – the Devil’s Throat (Garganta del Diablo) is over 80 meters high. The sound of the water can be heard from a distance of 20 km. The terrain means that the waterfalls can be admired from different perspectives, e.g. from land (some people use a horseback ride) or from a helicopter, or even from a cable car placed over the entire complex. It is worth going to the Friendship Bridge connecting Brazil with Argentina. The Iguazu Falls are actually not one large waterfall, but as many as 275 separate rock rapids from which the cascades of the Iguacu River fall.
In the Peruvian Andes to Machu Picchu (Peru)
Partially overgrown by the Peruvian jungle, located at an altitude of over 2,000 m above sea level on the Urubamba River, there is one of the best preserved cities – the city of the Incas. Among the peaks of the Andes in the Amazon forests of Peru are scattered Inca fortresses and the remains of a fallen civilization. Here, nature has left its mark and is beautifully intertwined with ruins. One theory is that Machu Picchu was not a city, but a place of sun worship and a sanctuary for women called “Virgins of the Sun”.
The Green Hell of Mato Grosso
Mato Grosso is one of the 26 states of Brazil, at the junction of Bolivia and Paraguay. Tony Halik spent many years exploring these areas. The state owes its name “dense forest” to the brothers Fernando and Arthur Paes de Barros, who in the eighteenth century discovered a gold-bearing vein on the banks of the Galera River.
More than half of this region is covered by the Amazon jungle. There are three national parks in Mato Grosso:
- Chapada dos Guimaraes, where you can see, m.in, impressive red-orange sandstone walls, as well as picturesque waterfalls and canyons;
- Juruena – the third largest national park in Brazil, located on the banks of the Juruena River, in two states: Mato Grosso and Amazonas, created mainly to protect the Amazon;
- Pantanal – here you can admire countless species of plants and animals (e.g. jaguars, capybaras), birds, fish and reptiles. During the rainy season, the Paraguay River floods the entire plain and then the best means of transport is by boat.
Travel to Ecuador, i.e. on both sides of the equator
A trip to Ecuador is certainly a fantastic adventure, especially due to its proximity to the equator. It’s a whole new experience for a European citizen when the day ends abruptly and unexpectedly, and the night begins and ends just as abruptly.
Located on both sides of the equator, Ecuador impresses with fantastic nature, monuments of ancient civilizations, colonial cities and the famous Galapagos turtle archipelago. Here you can meet rare species of birds, fauna and marine flora and relax on beautiful beaches surrounded by volcanic landscape.
Mysterious Lake Titicaca
Between Peru and Bolivia lies Lake Titicaca, sacred to the Incas. So far, the lake is full of mysteries. Salar de Uyuni is one of the most beautiful in the world. According to ancient myths, it is considered the birthplace of the Inca peoples. Their spirits returned to Lake Titicaca after death.
It is located in the Andes at an altitude of about 12,000 m above sea level. It can be navigated by boat. There are islands scattered on the lake, where the remains of ancient civilizations, temples, gold and silver have been discovered. An interesting fact is that some of the islands were created by man. They were created by building a large floating base or mat made of reeds.
On the southern shore of the lake lie the remains of Tiahuanaco, the largest center of Andean culture. It is said that the people of Tiahuanaco were the first to build pyramids and huge stone statues in the lake region.
Where music intertwines with history
South America is known for its heart-and-body captivating sounds. Its diversity delights and amazes at the same time. You can find in it musical motifs of ancient and tribes, combined with contemporary music. Wherever we go in South America, music plays a very important role in every corner of the world.
One of the most popular – tango – is a kind of very energetic intimate dance and hot music at the same time. It originates from Argentina and Uruguay. Originating in Brazil, samba is a combination of Latin American dances (rumba, cha-cha, paso doble and jive), and has its origins in the 16th century in African religious dances. On the other hand, dance combined with the martial art of capoeira plays a special role in Brazilian culture.
Music and dance in South America are elemental, energetic, joyful, sensual and individualistic.
In contemporary music, artists also like to use traditional music. You can hear it in Shakira‘s work. However, hardly anyone remembers that Sepultura, a band that performs mainly metal and hard rock, comes from Brazil.
